Madonna Naked Picture Sells For $23,000: Top 5 Most Expensive Nude Photos, Paintings

In the picture Madonna lies on her back in bed and proudly flaunts her bare breasts, while strategically covering up other body parts with a white sheet. The year the photo was taken marks the launch of her Blond Ambition Tour. At the time Madonna was around 31 years old, and had recently admitted that her fame was not necessarily due to her musical talents.

I know that I'm not the best singer and I know that I'm not the best dancer, she told the media then. But, I can f----ing push people's buttons and be as provocative as I want. The tour's goal is to break useless taboos.

The photographer behind the sultry, expensive image is Seven Meisel, who signed the picture and wrote ed no. 1. It measures 21.5 inches by 19 inches, and was owned by a NY gallery before being bought by the vendor who put it up for sale.

Meisel was the same photographer behind Madonna's 1992 book, Sex, which featured a number of nude photos and film frames. The coffee table book was sold by Bonhams in New York and released a day after her fifth studio album, Erotica.

It is an absolutely stunning image and it is just a beautiful tone of grey, Judith Eurich from the saleroom told The Daily Mail. It is not just black and white it is grey and silvery.

Top 5 Expensive Naked Pictures and Paintings.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono Naked Photo = $1,128

Two rare original photographs of John and Yoko posing nude (from the front and back) were recently discovered and will go to auction. See them for yourself here courtesy of the Daily Mail.

The imaes were used on the couple's 1968 album, Unfinished Music No 1: Two Virgins, and were taken using a timer not a photographer. The photos up for sale are wider than the one used on the LP cover, and reveal clutter around the subjects' feet.

The current owner found them at the home of his recently deceased mother. He was shocked to find the photos and has no idea where they came from. The pictures will be sold at Duke's auctioneers in Dorset and have been listed with a pre-sale estimate of just 700 pounds ($1,128).

Kate Moss Nude Photo = $25,000

An original print of a naked picture of model Kate Moss taken by Albert Watson sold for $2,500 to an anonymous bidder at Bonhams London. The photo is rumored to be one of Moss' favorites and was taken as part of a set during a 1993 shoot for German Vogue. You can see the picture here.

Lady gaga nude sketch = 30,000

This nude portrait of pop queen Lady Gaga was drawn by musical legend and accomplished painter Tony Bennett. The sketch was auctioned on eBay, and went for $30,000. It was sold alongside several other items from Gag's January 2012 cover shoot for Vanity Fair contributing photographer Annie Leibovitz. The picture is 18 by 24 inches and was signed Benedetto. See the $30,000 sketch here.

Nude by Edward Weston = $1,609,000

Weston is considered a pioneer of 20th century art and renowned across the world as one of the most influential American photographers of his time. He is known for his insightful pieces. Nude was taken in the year 1925, and represents a series of photographs taken by the artist during the roaring '20s while working with a number of nude models. Among his subjects was his wife, Flora. See the million dollar photo here. 

Picasso's Nude in Black Armchair = $45.1 million

Created in 1932, the expressive and curvaceous painting broke auction records previously set by Pablo Picasso with earlier pieces. The piece represents the series of portraits of the artist's mistress. The painting has held the world record for most expensive piece since 1999. See it here.